Articulated toy



Sept. 1, 1959 I N. THOMAS ARTICULATED oy Filed June 12, 1957 FIG. I

FIG. 2

INVENTOR. NICK THOMAS ATTORNEY United States Patent ARTICULATED TOY Nick Thomas, Akron, Ohio Application June 12, 1957, Serial No. 665,218

2 Claims. 01. 46-141) This invention relates to the art of toys, and in particular, has reference to articulated toys that feature appendage movements upon collapsing of the toy.

In the known prior art of articulated toys, there have been provided several types of toys falling under this general classification wherein appendage movement is provided in simulation of eating, drinking, etc. However, Without exception, these toys have beencharacterized by the use of a plurality of complicated internal mechanisms that invariably add to the expense of the toy involved. Also, toys of this general classification have almost invariably required an external actuating lever to initiate appendage movement, with this actuating lever frequently being partially disguised in the form of another appendage of the toy body.

It has been found that a new and highly interesting type of articulated toy with simplified construction can be provided if the force of gravity is utilized for one portion of the appendage movement. It has been further discovered that the appendage movement can be made to appear more realistic if the speed ofmovement of the said appendage is decreased materially so as to simulate the actual movement of a human being in the course of drinking a glass of a beverage, forexample.

It has been further found that additional novelty and interest can be provided in toys of this approved type if a reed, or other type of squawker mechanism is incorporated therein so that the articulation of the toy is accompanied by an. audible emission.

The provision of such a highly simplified articulated toy, having realistic appendage movement, together with sound emission upon. such. movement, accordingly becomes the principal object of this invention.

Qther objects of .theinvention will become more apparent upon a reading of the following brief specification, considered and interpreted in the light of the accompanying drawings.

Of the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side-elevational view of the device partly broken away and in section, and illustrating the toy in upright position.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the improved toy.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 but having the external apparel removed to illustrate the condition of the mechanism in the upright position.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, but showing the toy in its collapsed condition.

Figure 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional elevation showing the incorporation of the squawker mechanism in the toy.

Referring now to the drawings and in particular to Figures 1 to 5 thereof, the improved articulated toy, generally designated by the numeral 10, is shown simulating a Bavarian character having a mug 11 placed in the hand of a movable arm 12 so that upon relative collapsing movement of the head section 13 with respect to the base section 14, the mug 11 will be moved between the positions of Figures 3 and 4 in simulation of a drinking movement.

Patented Sept. 1, 1959 The actual construction of the toy per se, is best shown in Figures 3 and 4 of the drawing where the external decorative clothing has been omitted for the sake of clarity in description, and, accordingly, the head portion 13 and the base portion 14 are each shown as having cylindrical portions 20 and 21 respectively; the arrangement being such that these flat cylindrical portions serve to seat the opposed axial ends of a coil spring 22 that normally operates to urge the head section 13 and the base portion 14 axially aparttowards the condition of Figure 3. Additionally, the cylindrical sections 20 and 2 1 are also shown interconnected by a resilient sleeve 23, that is preferably of air-tight construction, so as to form a resilient sealed chamber between the sections 20 and -21 with this resilient chamber enclosing the coil spring 2 2 as will be apparent from an examination of Figures 1 and 3 of the drawings.

In addition to the aforementioned component parts the cylindrical portion 20 is shown receiving a pivot pin 30, about which may pivotally be received a rod member having'sections 31 and 32, with the latter section 32 being bent and contoured so as to have the free end 3 2a thereofreceived interiorly of the hand 34, while the portion 31 is preferably contoured and provided with an eyeend 35 through which a string 36 may be attached, with the opposite end of the string 36-being secured, as at 37, to the cylindrical portion 21 as clearly shown in Figure 3 of the drawings.

It is to be understood in this regard, that the hand 34 will preferably be in simulation of grasping the mug 11, and similarly, that a second hand 38 could be attached to rod 39 at a diametrically opposed portion of the cylindrical portion 20, with the hand 38 being either stationary, or movable with the mug 11 as is desired.

Considering next the structure of the base 21, it will be seen that the same is provided with an aperture 40 that communicates with the resilient chamber that is defined by the portionsZtl, 21, as well as the resilient sleeve 23. Also, and as best shown in Figure 5-, a squawker mechanism, generally designated by the numeral 42, is shown disposed adjacent the aperture 40 so that the entrance of air into the interior of the chamber defined by resilient sleeve 23 will cause the operation of the squawker to emit an audible sound.

While the above-recited structural parts account for the actual movement of the toys as will be hereinafter described, it is also to be understood that the preferred embodiment countemplates the provision of feet 44, 4.4,

that are secured tov the underside of member 21, while the upper portion, head section 13, includes a face portion 45, hair 46, and a hat 47, with these particular configurations forming no material part of the invention herein recited.

In use or operation of the improved toy 10, it will first be assumed that the same has been dressed in external clothing and that the component parts have been secured together as indicated in the drawings so as to have provided an operating toy.

Normally, the toy 10 will be in the upright condition of Figures 1 and 3, with the mug 11 being fairly close to the mouth of the toy.

In this upright condition, it is also to be noted that the axial separation between the head portion 13 and the base portion 14 will be limited by the resilient sleeve 23, with this sleeve 23 serving to limit the amount of separating movement that can be caused by the spring member 22.

When it is desired to actuate the toy, it is merely necessary that the head portion 13 be depressed towards the base portion 14 that has been placed on the supporting surface (not shown). This depression of the head 13 will cause a partial exhaust of air through aperture 40 and will also cause the mug 11, as well as the hand 34 and arm 12, to move around the pivot point 36 as a result of the slack of the string 36 that is caused by the approach of the head section 13 towards the base section 14. Accordingly, as the head section 13 is depressed against the force of the spring 22, the component parts of the toy will assume the position of Figure 4 with the toy being in simulation of a squatting movement with the mug being at quite a distance from the mouth portion of the toy.

However, when the depressing pressure of the hand on head section 13 is released, it is believed apparent that the spring 22 will urge the head section 13 and the base section 14 apart. However, the action of the spring 22 in the preferred embodiment of the invention is shown resisted as a result of the provision of the air-tight enclosure as provided by use of the resilient sleeve 23 with a vacuum being formed internally of the sleeve 23 upon depression of the parts to the position of Figure 4. Accordingly, the head section 13 will move relatively gradually away from the base section upon release of the hand pressure on the head section 13 with the rate of movement between head section 13 and base section 14 being controlled by the size and restriction provided adjacent to'the aperture 40.

It is believed apparent that as this upward movement of the head 13 continues, the string 36 will eventually become taut, with the result that the mug 11, as well as the hand 34, will rise as a result of movement of the arm sections 31 and 32 around the pivot point 30. This will simulate the actual drinking of the beverage received in the mug 11 with the result that as the toy regains its upright position, the mug 11 will automatically be raised to the lips of the toy in perfect simulation of the drinking of the beverage contained therein.

It will be seen from the foregoing that there has been provided a new and novel type of articulated toy characterized by a realistic appendage movement upon collapsing of the toy. It has been shown how the decrease in the speed of erection of the toy causes a relatively slow appendage movement in perfect simulation of the actual act of human drinking with the result that the toy,

while extremely simple in principle and construction, is

exceptionally realistic in simulation of human movement.

While a full and complete disclosure of the invention has been made in accordance with the dictates of the patent statutes, it is to be understood that the invention is not intended to be so limited, and accordingly, while the style and external appearance of the toy have been illustrated in connection with Bavarian character, it is to be understood that a toy, having the face and clothing characteristics of a child could be provided with equal facility, with the child being shown drinking milk from a mug or other container that would be carried by the movable appendage of the toy. Similarly, while the preferred embodiment of the invention has disclosed the use of a reed type of squawker mechanism in connection with the erecting movement thereof, it is to be understood that this use is optional and could be eliminated if desired. By like token, it is believed apparent that use of the air-tight chamber to decrease the appendage movement, is, of course, optional, with it being possible to obtain a somewhat realistic simulation of appendage movement by elimination of the air-tight flexible chamber that is disclosed in the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Additionally, while the Weight of the artificial hand carried on the end of the arm member would normally provide sufficient force to cause movement of this around the pivot point upon depression of the head section 13 towards the base section 14, it is to be understood that if desired, a hand or hands could be weighted in known manner so as to facilitate a faster dropping movement of the same around its pivot point.

It accordingly follows that modifications of the invention may be resorted to without departing from the spirit hereof or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A toy of the character described, comprising; a head section; a base section; an arm pivoted to said head section adjacent its central portion and having an appendage secured to one free end thereof; a cord member interconnected between said remaining opposed end of said arm and said base section; a resilient sleeve interconnecting said head portion and base portion and defining therewith a laterally deformable cylindrical chamber and spring means interconnecting said head and base portions and urging the same apart; said cord member being relaxed when said base and head sections are moved towards adjacency with each other whereby said head section can shift laterally of said base portion during movement towards and from the same.

2. The device of claim 1 further characterized by the presence of means restricting the separating force of said spring means during movement of said head and base sections apart.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,098,303 Steiner et al May 26, 1914 1,561,829 Cohn Nov. 17, 1925 2,641,865 Gowland June 16, 19 53 

